Shop ’til you drop on tax-free weekend

Shoppers in Boston enjoyed the first day of a sales-tax holiday on August 10. While some hadn’t even realized that they were getting a deal, others were taking full advantage of the savings. Here’s what people were spending at stores in the Prudential Center and on Newbury Street.

Pictured: A sign on Newbury Street helped spread the word about the weekend savings.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com Correspondent

Rachel and Michael Sullivan of South Boston spent $1,200 on the new Sony Vaio Pro laptop from the Microsoft store in the Pru. “We’re going to get a TV at Best Buy later,” Rachel said. “It’s for the baby’s room.”
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com Correspondent

Anna Goncalves, visiting from Portugal, said she had spent about $70 on clothes from Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Minae Cho, 21, of South Korea, bought a Chanel necklace, hair care products from Mizue, and makeup from Fresh for $600. “I like the American brand cosmetics, so I wanted to make sure to get those,” she said.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Libby Hodgkins, 33, of Providence, bought a grill light for her boyfriend at Brookstone for $45.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Kristen, Alaina, and Becky Vennero of Whitesboro, N.Y. had spent about $700 on their shopping spree so far. Kristen said her biggest deal was on a Tory Burch purse. Alaina and Becky were out looking for jeans, sweaters, and other clothes.

Jeremy Miller, 21, of Caliphon, N.J. and Brendan Norton, 22, of Malden stopped by Newbury Comics. Norton got a few albums and DVDs for $100. Miller said he hadn’t been looking for anything in particular but decided to take advantage of the holiday anyways, spending about $40 on T-shirts.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

John and Susan Lamson, of Barre, Vt., were visiting Boston regardless of the tax holiday but heard about it before they left for their trip. They spent about $230 on a purse from Coach, a Nook cover at Barnes and Noble, Laura Mercer brushes, and products from Sephora.

“It’s all hers!” John said.

Susan said they weren’t sure how much the holiday had saved them, but that it likely wasn’t a significant amount.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Tim Sakow, 20, of Fairlong, N.J. got shoes at City Sports for $90. The tax-free savings weren’t a factor in his decision. “I would’ve bought them anyways,” he said.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Ariel Lafond of Middletown, N.J. said she spent about $80 on clothes from Vineyard Vines and makeup from Sephora. Molly Bishop, 22, of Key Colony Beach, Fla., spent about $200 at the same two stores.

“We were out to shop anyways,” Lafond said, regardless of the tax holiday.
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Sam Costanzo/Boston.com correspondent

Ece Sengun of Turkey said she bought $70 in shoes at Tannery and $60 in lingerie at Marshalls. Ipek Alptertunga, also of Turkey, bought an iPad for her brother for $670. “I think I’m going to go back and get one for myself later,” she said.
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Sam Costanzo, Boston.com correspondent

Kaitlyn DeJoy, 16, and her mom Michelle, of Cleveland, Ohio were in town to go to the Justin Timberlake concert and celebrate Kaitlyn’s 16th birthday. Michelle wasn’t sure how much they had spent on Saturday, but their purchases for the entire weekend so far totalled around $3,500.